Enhanced MPEG information distribution apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A method and concomitant apparatus for compressing, multiplexing and, in optional embodiments, encrypting, transporting, decrypting, decompressing and presenting high quality video information in a manner that substantially preserves the fidelity of the video information in a system utilizing standard quality circuits to implement high quality compression, transport and decompression.

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationsSer. Nos. 60/071,294 and 60/071,296, each filed Jan. 16, 1998, and60/079,824 filed on Mar. 30, 1998. This application is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/050,304 filed Mar. 30,1998.This current application Ser. No. 11/635,063 claims benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Applications Ser. Nos. 60/071,294 and 60/071,296,each filed Jan. 16, 1998, and 60/079,824 filed on Mar. 30, 1998. Thiscurrent application Ser. No. 11/635,063 is a reissue application of U.S.application Ser. No. 09/092,225 filed Jun. 5, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No.6,829,301 issued Dec. 7, 2004, which claims benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/079,824 filed on Mar. 30, 1998. The U.S.application Ser. No. 09/092,225 is a continuation-in-part of applicationSer. No. 09/050,304 filed Mar. 30, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,118,820issued on Sep. 12, 2000, which U.S. application Ser. No. 09/050,304claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Applications Ser. Nos.60/071,294 and 60/071,296, each filed Jan. 16, 1998.

The invention relates to communications systems generally and, moreparticularly, the invention relates to an MPEG-like informationdistribution system providing enhanced information quality and security.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

In some communications systems the data to be transmitted is compressedso that the available bandwidth is used more efficiently. For example,the Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) has promulgated severalstandards relating to digital data delivery systems. The first, known asMPEG-1 refers to ISO/IEC standards 11172 and is incorporated herein byreference. The second, known as MPEG-2, refers to ISO/IEC standards13818 and is incorporated herein by reference. A compressed digitalvideo system is described in the Advanced Television Systems Committee(ATSC) digital television standard document A/53, and is incorporatedherein by reference.

The above-referenced standards describe data processing and manipulationtechniques that are well suited to the compression and delivery ofvideo, audio and other information using fixed or variable lengthdigital communications systems. In particular, the above-referencedstandards, and other “MPEG-like” standards and techniques, compress,illustratively, video information using intra-frame coding techniques(such as run-length coding, Huffman coding and the like) and inter-framecoding techniques (such as forward and backward predictive coding,motion compensation and the like). Specifically, in the case of videoprocessing systems, MPEG and MPEG-like video processing systems arecharacterized by prediction-based compression encoding of video frameswith or without intra- and/or inter-frame motion compensation encoding.

In the context of digital video processing and digital image processing,information such as pixel intensity and pixel color depth of a digitalimage is encoded as a binary integer between 0 and 2^(n−1). For example,film makers and television studios typically utilize video informationhaving 10-bit pixel intensity and pixel color depth, which producesluminance and chrominance values of between zero and 1023. While the10-bit dynamic range of the video information may be preserved on filmand in the studio, the above-referenced standards (and communicationsystems adapted to those standards) typically utilize a dynamic range ofonly 8-bits. Thus, the quality of a film, video or other informationsource provided to an ultimate information consumer is degraded bydynamic range constraints of the information encoding methodologies andcommunication networks used to provide such information to a consumer.

Therefore, it is seen to be desirable to provide a method and apparatusto preserve the dynamic range of film, video and other forms ofrelatively high dynamic range information that are encoded andtransported according to relatively low dynamic range techniques.Moreover, it is seen to be desirable to provide such dynamic rangepreservation while utilizing economies of scale inherent to theserelatively low dynamic range techniques, such as the above-referencedMPEG-like standards and techniques.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a low cost method and apparatus for compressing,multiplexing and, in optional embodiments, encrypting, transporting,decrypting, decompressing and presenting high quality video informationin a manner that substantially preserves the fidelity of the videoinformation. In addition, standard quality circuits are used in a mannerimplementing, e.g., a high quality compression apparatus suitable foruse in the invention. In optionally embodiments, pre-processingtechniques are used to extend the apparent dynamic range of the standardcompression, transport and decompression systems utilized by theinvention.

Specifically, an apparatus according to the invention is suitable foruse in a system for distributing a video information signal comprising aplurality of full dynamic range components and comprises: a compressionencoder, for compression encoding the video information signal in amanner substantially retaining the full dynamic range of the fulldynamic range components, the compression encoder comprising at leasttwo standard encoders, each of the standard encoders being responsive toup to three component video signals, each of the standard compressionencoders tending to substantially preserve a dynamic range and spatialresolution of only one component of the video signal, each of thestandard compression encoders providing a compressed output videosignal; and a multiplexer, for multiplexing the compressed output videosignals of the two or more standard compression encoders to produce amultiplexed information stream.

In another embodiment of the invention, each of three standard YUV-typeMPEG encoders (e.g., 4:2:0 or 4:2:2) is used to encode a respective oneof three component video signals utilizing only a luminance encodingportion of the encoder. A standard transport system delivers the threeencoded component video signals to three standard YUV-type MPEG decoders(e.g., 4:2:0 or 4:2:2), which are each used to decode a respectiveencoded component video signal utilizing a luminance decoding portion ofthe decoder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood byconsidering the following detailed description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a high level block diagram of an audio-visual informationdelivery system;

FIG. 2 depicts a high level block diagram of a video compression unitand a video decompression unit and suitable for use in the audio-visualinformation delivery system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts a high level block diagram of an alternate embodiment ofa video compression unit and a video decompression unit and suitable foruse in the audio-visual information delivery system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts a high level block diagram of an alternate embodiment ofa video compression unit and a video decompression unit and suitable foruse in the audio-visual information delivery system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A depicts a high level block diagram of an alternate embodiment ofa video compression unit and suitable for use in the audio-visualinformation delivery system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5B and 5C depict a high level block diagram of an alternateembodiment of a video decompression unit and suitable for use in theaudio-visual information delivery system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6A depicts an enhanced bandwidth MPEG encoder; and

FIG. 6B depicts an enhanced bandwidth MPEG decoder suitable for use in asystem employing the enhanced bandwidth MPEG encoder of FIG. 6A.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have beenused, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common tothe figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

After considering the following description, those skilled in the artwill clearly realize that the teachings of the invention can be readilyutilized in any information processing system in which high fidelityinformation is processed and transported using processing and transporttechniques that typically cause a reduction in fidelity. An embodimentof the invention will be described within the context of a secure, highquality information distribution system suitable for distributing, e.g.,motion pictures and other high quality audio-visual programming to,e.g., movie theaters. However, the scope and teachings of the inventionhave much broader applicability and, therefore, the invention should notbe construed as being limited to the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 1 depicts a high fidelity information delivery system and methodSpecifically, FIG. 1 depicts a high level block diagram of a highfidelity information delivery system and method suitable for compressingand securing a high fidelity information stream, illustratively anaudio-visual information stream; transporting the secure, compressedaudio-visual information to an information consumer utilizing standardtechniques; and unlocking and decompressing the transported stream toretrieve substantially the original high fidelity audio-visualinformation stream.

In the system and method of FIG. 1, a digital source 1 provides adigital information stream S1, illustratively a high fidelityaudio-visual information stream, to a pre-transport processing function2. The pre-transport processing function 2 comprises a compressionfunction 21, an encryption and anti-theft function 22 and, optionally, astore for distribution function 23 to produce an information stream S23.A transport and delivery function 3 distributes the information streamS23 to a post-transport processing function 4. The post-transportprocessing function 4 comprises an optional store for display function41, a decryption function 42 and a decompression function 43 to producean output information stream S43. The output information stream S43 iscoupled to a presentation device 5, illustratively a display device.

The system and method of FIG. 1 will now be described within the contextof a secure, high quality information distribution system suitable fordistributing, e.g., motion pictures and other high quality audio-visualprogramming to, e.g., movie theaters. First, the appropriate fidelityand security parameters of the system will be discussed. Second, therealization of the fidelity and security parameters by the system willbe discussed. Finally, specific implementations of system componentswill be discussed.

As a practical matter, consumer enthusiasm for theater presentation ofaudiovisual programming, such as movies, is strongly related to thequality (in the fidelity sense of the audio and video presentation.Thus, in a world of high definition television (HDTV) at home, thequality of the video and audio presented to consumers by a theater,cinema or other venue should be superior to the HDTV experience thehome. Moreover, since theater owners and copyright holders benefit byrestricting or controlling parameters related to the programming (e.g.,ensuring secure delivery of the programming, limited venues,presentation times or number of presentations and the like), theimplementation of various distribution and security features isdesirable.

To provide adequate video fidelity, one embodiment of the system andmethod of FIG. 1 utilizes compression coding at the component level(i.e., RGB) rather than at the color difference level (i.e., YUV). Thisembodiment will be discussed in more detail below with respect to FIG.2, Briefly, the embodiment of FIG. 2 provides compression coding thatpreserves 4:4:4 resolution video, rather than the 4:2:0 resolution videotypically used in MPEG systems.

The MPEG 8-bit 4:4:4 resolution produces results that are adequate forsome applications of the invention. For those applications requiring ahigher degree of fidelity, the invention preferentially utilizes aneffective color depth that is greater than the 8-bit color depth typicalof MPEG systems, such as a color depth of at least 10 bits log perprimary color. To achieve enhanced color depth (i.e., greater than8-bits) using standard 8-bit MPEG components (decoders, encoders and thelike), additional pre-encoding and/or post-decoding processing may beutilized, as will now be explained.

Another embodiment of the system and method of FIG. 1 utilizes regionalpixel-depth compaction techniques for preserving the dynamic range of arelatively high dynamic range signal. A regional pixel depth compactionmethod and apparatus suitable for use in the method and system of FIG. 1is described in more detail below with respect to the enhanced MPEGencoder of FIG. 6, and in co-pending U.S. patent Application Ser. No.09/050,304, filed on Mar. 30, 1998, and Provisional U.S. PatentApplication No. 60/071,294, filed on Jan. 16, 1998, both of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Briefly, thedescribed method and apparatus segments a relatively high dynamic rangesignal into a plurality of segments (e.g., macroblocks within a videosignal); determines the maximum and minimum values of a parameter ofinterest (e.g., a luminance, chrominance or motion vector parameter)within each segment, remaps each value of a parameter of interest to,e.g., a lower dynamic range defined by the maximum and minimum values ofthe parameter of interest; encodes the remapped segments in a standard(e.g., lower dynamic range) manner; multiplexes the encoded remappedinformation segments and associated maximum and minimum parameter valuesto form a transport stream for subsequent transport to a receiving unit,where the process is reversed to retrieve the original, relatively highdynamic range signal. A technique for enhancing color depth on aregional basis can be used as part of the digitizing step to producebetter picture quality in the images and is disclosed in theabove-referenced Provisional U.S. patent application.

Another aspect of the system of FIG. 1 is the facilitation of a moderatelevel of random access into at least the unencrypted information stream(e.g., to insert advertisements, coming attraction trailers and thelike), by including limited (e.g., every minute) random access pointswithin the stream. Such random access points may be provided in astandard manner as described in, e.g., the MPEG specifications.

Another aspect of the system 100 of FIG. 1 is the use of high qualityencoding for all frame rates, including the standard film frame rates or24 Hz and 25 Hz. The system 100 utilizes a high bandwidth (e.g., 40Mbits/sec) compression encoding and decoding scheme. Moreover, thesystem is capable of compressing, decompressing, and displaying anyaspect ratio within the capabilities of the encoder and/or decoderemployed by the invention, without needlessly compressing lines outsidethe original images. Moreover, it should be clearly understood that inthe event a particular aspect ratio is not within the capabilities of anencoder and/or decoder, known “letterbox” and other image croppingtechniques may be used. The system is also capable of decompressing inreal time a very high resolution (e.g., 2000 pixels by 1000 pixels)moving picture having a high display rate such as 48 or 72 Hz (or theEuropean 50 and 75 Hz). The bandwidth and resolution capabilities of thesystem are, of course, limited by the particular sub-system componentsused within the system, such as display device resolutions, transportsystems and the like.

The system optionally utilizes motion estimation algorithms to reduceredundancy between images. Suitable motion estimation techniques aredescribed in U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 08/612,005, filed Mar. 4,1996; 08/735,869 (WIPO US 96/16956), filed Oct. 23, 1996; 60/048,181,(WIPO US 98/1056) filed May 30, 1997; 08/884,666, filed Jun. 27, 1997and 08/735,871 (WIPO US 96/17045), filed Oct. 23, 1996, all of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

To ensure high fidelity audio, the system advantageously utilizes anystandard audio format, such as 8-channel sound encoded with the imageusing 48 KHz audio sampling.

The digital source 1 comprises, illustratively, any source of highfidelity audio-visual information such as high-resolution digital videohaving a resolution suitable for use in, e.g., a movie theater. Forexample, moving images that originated on film may be scanned intoelectronic form using telecine or other known methods. Similarly, movingimages may be initially captured with a camera having a sufficientlyhigh resolution and color depth (i.e., resolution and color depthapproximating film), or scanned electronically from an existing videosource or file.

The pre-transport processing function 2 of the system 100 of FIG. 1receives and processed the digital information stream S1 to produce apre-transport information stream S22. The pre-transport informationstream S22 may be coupled directly to the transport and deliver function3 for transport packaging and delivery. Optionally, the pre-transportinformation stream S22 may be coupled to a store for distribution unit,illustratively a hard disk array, for storage prior to subsequentdistribution via the transport and deliver function 3. The pre-transportinformation stream S22 may comprise, e.g., a packetized elementarystream, a transport stream or an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)stream. The pre-transport information stream S22 may also comprise aTCP/IP stream.

The compression unit 21 compression encodes the high dynamic rangeinformation stream S1, illustratively a video stream, at a “film image”quality (i.e., preserve the dynamic range of the film) to produce acompressed information stream S21. Several embodiments of compressionunit 21 will be described below with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3. When thecompressed information stream S21 is subsequently decompressed by thedecompression unit 43, substantially the entire bandwidth of the initialvideo or other high dynamic range information source will be retrieved.It must be noted that compression technologies such as MPEG weredesigned particularly for video compression and use color spaces, e.g.,YUV, specifically used in the video realm, as opposed to the film realm.In particular, various constraints that apply to video do not apply tofilm or electronic film equivalents, and, therefore, these currentstandard video compression formats are not necessarily appropriate forthe compression of digital images associated with film.

The encryption and anti-theft unit 22 encrypts the compressedinformation stream S21 to produce an encrypted information stream S22.The encryption and anti-theft unit 22 is specifically designed to thwartpiracy of high dynamic range information streams, such motion pictureinformation streams. The encryption and anti-theft unit 22 addressespiracy in two ways, watermarking and encryption.

Watermarking methods and apparatus suitable for use in the encryptionand anti-theft unit 22 are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/001,205, filed on Dec. 30, 1997, and U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/997,965, filed on Dec. 24, 1997, both of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties. The disclosed watermarkingmethods and apparatus are used to modify the compressed informationstreams to allow identification of, e.g., the source of the stream. Inthis manner, a stolen copy of a motion picture may examined todetermine, e.g., which distribution channel (or which distributor) lostcontrol of the motion picture.

Standard encryption methods and apparatus may be used in the encryptionand anti-theft unit 22. Such methods include, e.g., dual key encryptionand other methods that are directed toward preventing utilization of theunderlying, protected data. In this manner, even in the event of theft,a motion picture cannot be displayed without the original owners'permission (i.e., the decryption key). Thus, motion pictures may besecurely transmitted by electronic means, obviating the present practiceof physically transported motion pictures in bulky packages that aresecured only by purely physical means.

The optional store for distribution unit 23 is provides temporarystorage of the compressed and/or encrypted moving pictures prior totransmission/transport of the compressed and encrypted moving picturesto an end user, such as a movie theater. The optional store fordistribution unit 23 may be implemented using any media suitable forcomputer material, such as hard disks, computer memory, digital tape andthe like. An apparatus for partial response encoding on magnetic mediamay be used to increase the amount of storage on computer disks andtapes, and hence lower the cost of the media necessary for storage ofdigitized moving pictures. Such an apparatus is described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 08/565,608, filed on Nov. 29, 1995, andincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The transport and delivery function 3 distributes the information streamS23 to a post-transport processing function 4. Because of the digitalnature of the images that are encoded and encrypted by the system,transport and delivery function 3 may be implemented in a manner thatcannot be used for moving pictures on film. For example, the transportand delivery function 3 may be implemented using a digital storagemedium for physically transporting the data to, e.g., a theater. In thiscase, the physical medium is less bulky than film while providing thesecurity of encryption and watermarking. The transport and deliveryfunction 3 may also be implemented using an electronic communicationsmedium (e.g., public or private communications network, satellite link,telecom network and the like), for electronically transporting the datafrom the point of distribution to the theater. In this case there is nophysical storage medium transported between sites. The transport anddelivery function 3 may be implemented using a communications systemcomprising one or more of, a satellite link, a public or privatetelecommunications network, a microwave link or a fiber optic link.Other types of communications links suitable for implementing thetransport and delivery function 3 are known to those skilled in the art.

The post-transport processing function 4, which comprises the optionalstore for display function 41, decryption and anti-theft function 42 anddecompression function 43, produces an output information stream S43that is coupled to a presentation device 5, illustratively a displaydevice.

The optional store for display function 41 is used for, e.g., in-theaterstorage of a transported motion picture representative informationstream. Due to the digital nature of the transported information stream,the storage is much more secure, much less bulky, and much more robustthan film. All the films showing at a theater may be stored in singleplace and displayed at any time through any projector (e.g.,presentation device 5) in the theater simply by running the necessarycables. The same server technology used for the optional store fordistribution function 23 may be used for the store for display function41. When used, the optional store for display function 41 couples storedinformation streams to the decryption and anti-theft unit 42 as streamS41.

Standard decryption methods and apparatus may be used in the decryptionand anti-theft unit 42, as long as they are compatible with theencryption methods and apparatus used in the encryption and anti-theftunit 22. That is, the encrypted and compressed moving pictures must bedecrypted and decompressed at the theater in order for them to bedisplayed to an audience. The decryption and anti-theft unit 42 producesa decrypted information stream S42 that is coupled to the decompressionfunction 43.

A preferred decryption method utilizes certificates and trustedauthorities to ensure that the digital form of the moving picture willbe unintelligible to any person or device that attempts to use itwithout the proper authority. No unauthorized user is able to decryptthe bits of the moving picture without the appropriate key or keys, landthese will be available only to appropriately authorized theaters orother venues. Thus, stealing the digital form of the moving pictureitself will be of no use to a thief, because it will be impossible todisplay without the appropriate decryption keys. As previouslydiscussed, an additional layer of security is provided by the use ofwatermarks in the digital bitstream, so that in the event of piracy, astolen copy and its source may be readily identified. Because thewatermarks are put into the compressed bitstream, it will be possible toput different watermarks into each bitstream, so that each copy that issent out can be uniquely identified.

The decompression function 43 decompresses the motion picture (or otherinformation stream) in real time and couples a decompressed informationstream S43 to the presentation unit 5. The decompression function 43 andpresentation function 5 may be integrated to form a self-contained,combined decompression function 43 and presentation function 5. In thismanner, there is no opportunity to record or capture the decompressedimages on any medium, since the self-contained, combined decompressionfunction 43 and presentation function 5 has no output other than theimages themselves. This is very important for the protection of thematerial in the digitized movie so that illegal electronic copies of theoriginal cannot be made and displayed.

The presentation unit 5 may comprise a projector that takes RGB inputsof the dynamic range output by the system and displays those colorsfaithfully and, as closely as possible, with the full contrast andbrightness range of the original image.

FIG. 1 also depicts additional decryption and anti-theft units 42-1through 42-n, additional decompression functions 43-1 through 43-n andadditional presentation units 5-1 through 5-n. As shown in FIG. 1, eachof the additional decryption and anti-theft units 42-1 through 42-n arecoupled to receive the same signal S41 from optional store for displayunit 41. Such an arrangement is suitable for use in, illustratively, amultiple screen (i.e., display device 5) theater simultaneouslypresenting a first run movie on multiple screens. In normal operation,since a different movie is presented on each additional screen, eachscreen is supported by a respective decryption function anddecompression function. Thus, store for display unit 41 may be used toprovide a separate output signal (not shown) for each additionaldecryption and anti-theft unit 42-1 through 42-n.

FIGS. 2-4 depict respective high level block diagrams of a videocompression unit 21 and a video decompression unit 43 suitable for usein the audio-visual information delivery system of FIG. 1. It must benoted that each embodiment advantageously leverages existing technologyto encode and decode electronic cinema quality video information. Forexample, existing MPEG encoders typically utilize YUV space, decimatingthe U and V channels and encoding the decimated U and V channelinformation at a much lower bandwidth than the Y channel information(e.g., the known 4:2:0 video format). Similarly, existing MPEG decoderstypically decode the 4:2:0 format encoded video to produce fullbandwidth Y channel and decimated U and V channel video. Thus, utilizingthe below embodiments of the invention, high dynamic range information,such as electronic cinema information, may be economically encoded,transported in a normal manner, and decoded without losing any dynamicrange. It must be noted that several encoders and/or decoders may, ofcourse, be used to form a single integrated circuit utilizing knownsemiconductor manufacturing techniques.

FIG. 2 depicts a high level block diagram of a video compression unit 21and a video decompression unit 43 according to the invention andsuitable for use in the audio-visual information delivery system ofFIG. 1. Specifically, the video compression unit 21 depicted in FIG. 2comprises three standard MPEG encoders 218R, 218G and 218B and amultiplexer 219. Similarly, the video decompression unit 43 depicted inFIG. 2 comprises a demultiplexer 431 and three standard MPEG decoders432R, 432G and 432B.

Referring now to the video compression unit 21, a full depth (i.e., fulldynamic range) red S1R input video signal is coupled to a luminanceinput of the first standard MPEG encoder 218R; a full depth blue S1Binput video signal is coupled to a luminance input of the secondstandard MPEG encoder 218B; and a full depth green S1G input videosignal is coupled to an input of the third standard MPEG encoder 218G.

Each of the standard MPEG encoders 218R, 218G and 218B produces arespective full depth compressed output signal S218R, S218G and S218Bthat is coupled to the multiplexer 219. The multiplexer 219 multiplexesthe encoded, full depth compressed video output signals S218R, S218G andS218B to form the compressed bitstream S21.

It must be noted that the standard MPEG encoders 218R, 218G and 218B aretypically used to encode YUV space video having a 4:2:0 resolution. Thatis, the encoders are typically used to provide full resolution encodingof the luminance channel and reduced resolution encoding of thechrominance channels. Thus, by utilizing only the luminance portion ofMPEG encoders 218R, 218G and 218B, the video compression unit 21 of FIG.2 provides full depth encoding (in RGB space) of the luminance andchrominance information. It should also be noted that there exists MPEGdecoders providing RGB output signals in response to encoded inputstreams do exist. However, such decoders typically cost more and provideinsufficient resolution.

Referring now to the video decompression unit 43, the demultiplexer 431receives a compressed bitstream S42 corresponding to the compressedbitstream S21. The demultiplexer extracts from the compressed bitstreamS42 three full depth compressed video streams S431R, S431B and S431Gcorresponding to the full depth compressed video streams S218R, S218Gand S218B. The full depth compressed video streams S431R, S431B andS431G are coupled to a luminance input of, respectively, standard MPEGdecoders 432R, 432G and 432B. The standard MPEG decoders 432R, 432G and432B responsively produce, respectively, a full depth red S43R videosignal, a full depth blue S43B video signal and a full depth green S43Gvideo signal.

It must be noted that the standard MPEG decoders 432R, 432G and 432B aretypically used to decode YUV space video having a 4:2:0 resolution.Thus, by utilizing only the luminance portion of MPEG encoders 432R,432G and 432B, the video decompression unit 43 of FIG. 2 provides fulldepth decoding (in RGB space) of the luminance and chrominanceinformation initially provided to the video compression unit 21. In thismanner, the embodiments of the video compression unit 21 and videodecompression unit 43 depicted in FIG. 2 provide economicalimplementation of an electronic cinema quality encoding, transport anddecoding functions.

FIG. 3 depicts a high level block diagram of an alternate embodiment ofa video compression unit 21 and a video decompression unit 43 accordingto the invention and suitable for use in the audio-visual informationdelivery system of FIG. 1. Specifically, the video compression unit 21depicted in FIG. 3 comprises a format converter 211, a pair of lowpass/high pass filter complements (LPF/HPFs) 212 and 213, a motionestimation unit 214, an MPEG-2 compression unit 215, an enhancementlayer data compression unit 217 and a multiplexer 216. Similarly, thevideo decompression unit 43 depicted in FIG. 3 comprises a demultiplexer433, an MPEG decoder 310, and enhancement layer decoder 320, a firstadder 330, a second adder 340 and a format converter 350.

The format converter 211 converts an input RGB video signal S1R, S1B andS1G into a full depth luminance signal Y, a first full depth colordifference signal U′ and a second full depth color difference signal V′.The first and second full depth color difference signals, U′ and V′, arecoupled to, respectively, first and second low pass/high pass filtercomplements 212 and 213.

Each of the low pass/high pass filter complements 212 and 213 comprises,illustratively, a low pass digital filter and a complementary high passdigital filter. That is, the high frequency 3 dB roll-off frequency ofthe low pass digital filter is approximately the same as the lowfrequency 3 dB roll-off frequency of the high pass digital filter. Theroll-off frequency is selected to be a frequency which passes, via thelow pass digital filter, those frequency components normally associatedwith a standard definition chrominance signal. The roll-off frequencyalso passes, via the high pass digital filter, those additionalfrequency components normally associated with only a high definitionchrominance signal.

The first low pass/high pass filter complement 212 and second lowpass/high pass filter complement 213 produce, respectively, a first lowpass filtered and decimated color difference signal U_(L) and a secondlow pass filtered and decimated color difference signal V_(L). Theluminance signal Y, first low pass filtered color difference signalU_(L) and second low pass filtered color difference signal V_(L) arecoupled to the motion estimation unit 214.

Those skilled in the art will know that certain phase compensation,delay and buffering techniques should be employed to compensate for,e.g., group delay and other filtering artifacts to ensure that theluminance signal Y, first low pass filtered color difference signalU_(L) and second low pass filtered color difference signal V_(L) areproperly synchronized.

The full depth luminance Y, first color difference U′ and second colordifference V′ signal form a video signal having a 4:4:4 resolution. Bycontrast, the luminance Y, first low pass filtered color differenceU_(L) and second low pass filtered color difference V_(L) signals form avideo signal having, illustratively, a standard MPEG 4:2:2 or 4:2:0resolution. Thus, motion estimation unit 214 and MPEG2 compression unit215 may be implemented in a known manner using, e.g., inexpensive (i.e.,“off the shelf”) components or cells for use in application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs).

Motion estimation unit 214 and MPEG2 compression unit 215 produce at anoutput a compressed video stream S215 that is coupled to multiplexer216. In addition, motion estimation unit 214 produces a motion vectordata signal MV DATA indicative of the motion vectors for, e.g., eachmacroblock of the YUV video stream being estimated.

The first low pass/high pass filter complement 212 and second lowpass/high pass filter complement 213 produce, respectively, a first highpass filtered color difference signal U_(H) and a second high passfiltered color difference signal V_(H). The first high pass filteredcolor difference signal U_(H) and a second high pass filtered colordifference signal V_(H) are coupled to the enhancement layer datacompression unit 217.

Enhancement layer data compression unit 217 receives the first high passfiltered color difference signal U_(H), the second high pass filteredcolor difference signal V_(H) and the motion vector data signal MV DATA.In response, the enhancement layer data compression unit 217 produces atan output an information stream S217 comprising an enhancement layer tothe compressed video stream S215. The enhancement layer informationstream S217 comprises high frequency chrominance information (i.e.,U_(H) and V_(L)) that corresponds to the standard frequency chrominanceinformation (i.e., U_(L) and V_(L)) within the compressed video streamS215. The motion vector information within the enhancement layerinformation stream S217, which is generated with respect to the standardfrequency chrominance information (i.e., U_(L) and V_(L)), is used toensure that the spatial offsets imparted to the standard frequencycomponents are also imparted to the corresponding high frequencycomponents. The enhancement layer information stream S217 is coupled tomultiplexer 216.

Multiplexer 216 multiplexes the compressed video stream S215 and theenhancement layer information stream S217 to form the compressedbitstream S21. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the compressed video streamS215 comprises a standard MPEG2 stream. The enhancement layerinformation stream S217 is also compressed, using compression parametersfrom the MPEG compression, such as the illustrated motion vectors and,optionally, other standard MPEG compression parameters (not shown).

Referring now to the video decompression unit 43, the demultiplexer 433receives a compressed bitstream S42 corresponding to the compressedbitstream S21. The demultiplexer 433 extracts, from the compressedbitstream S42, the compressed video stream S215 and the enhancementlayer information stream S217. The compressed video stream S215 iscoupled to MPEG decoder 310, while the enhancement layer of informationstream S217 is coupled to the enhancement layer decoder 320.

MPEG decoder 310 operates in a standard manner to decode compressedvideo stream S215 to produce a luminance signal Y, a first standardresolution color difference signal U_(L) and a second standardresolution color difference signal V_(L). The first standard resolutioncolor difference signal U_(L) is coupled to a first input of first adder330, while the second standard resolution color difference signal V_(L)is coupled to a first input of second adder 340. The luminance signal Yis coupled to a luminance input of format converter 350.

Enhancement layer decoder 320 decodes the enhancement layer informationstream S217 to extract the high frequency components of the first colordifference signal U_(H) and the second color difference signal V_(H).The high frequency components of the first color difference signal U_(H)are coupled to a second input of first adder 330, while the highfrequency components of second color difference signal V_(H) are coupledto a second input of second adder 340.

First adder 330 operates in a known manner to add the first standardresolution color difference signal U_(L) and the high frequencycomponents of the first color difference signal U_(H) to produce fulldepth first color difference signal U′. Second adder 340 operates in aknown manner to add the second standard resolution color differencesignal V, and the high frequency components of the second colordifference signal V_(H) to produce full depth second color differencesignal U′. The first full depth color difference signal U′ and secondfull depth color difference signal V′ are coupled to the formatconverter 350. Format converter 350 operates in a standard manner toconvert the 4:4:4 YUV space video signal represented by the Y, U′ and V′components into corresponding RGB space signals S43R, S43G and S43B.

The embodiments of the video compression unit 21 and video decompressionunit 43 depicted in FIG. 3 advantageously leverage existing MPEG encoderand decoder technology to provide an electronic cinema quality videoinformation stream comprising a standard resolution video stream S215and an associated enhancement layer video stream S217. It must be notedthat in the absence of the enhancement layer video stream S217, theenhancement layer decoder 320 will produce a null output. Thus, in thiscase, the output of first adder 330 will comprise only the firststandard resolution color difference signal U_(L), while the output ofsecond adder 340 will comprise only the second standard resolution colordifference signal V_(L).

In one embodiment of the invention, the enhancement layer decoder 320 isresponsive to a control signal CONTROL produced by, illustratively, anexternal control source (i.e., user control) or the decryption unit 42(i.e., source or access control).

FIG. 4 depicts a high level block diagram of an alternate embodiment ofa video compression unit and a video decompression unit according to theinvention and suitable for use in the audio-visual information deliverysystem of FIG. 1. Specifically, the video compression unit 21 depictedin FIG. 4 comprises a format converter 211, a pair of low pass filters(LPFs) 402 and 404, an three MPEG encoders 410-412, an MPEG decoder 420,a pair of subtractors 406 and 408, and a multiplexer 440. Similarly, thevideo decompression unit 43 depicted in FIG. 4 comprises a demultiplexer450, second, third and fourth MPEG decoders 421-423, first and secondadders 466 and 468, and a format converter 470.

The format converter 211 converts an input RBG video signal S1R, S1B andS1G into a full depth luminance signal Y, a first full depth colordifference signal U′ and a second full depth color difference signal V′.The first and second full depth color signals, U′ and V′, are coupledto, respectively, first low pass filter 402 and second low pass filter404. The first and second full depth color signals, U′ and V′, are alsocoupled to a first input of first subtractor 406, and a first input ofsecond subtractor 408.

The first low pass filter 402 and second low pass filter 404 produce,respectively, a first low pass filtered and decimated color differencesignal U and a second low pass filtered and decimated color differencesignal V. The luminance signal Y, first low pass filtered and decimatedcolor difference signal U and second low pass filtered and decimatedcolor difference signal V are coupled to first MPEG encoder 410. FirstMPEG encoder 410 operates in the standard manner to produce,illustratively, a 4:2:0 compressed output stream C_(YUV). The MPEGencoded output stream C_(YUV) is coupled to multiplexer 440 and MPEGdecoder 420.

MPEG decoder 420 decodes the encoded output stream C_(YUV) produced byMPEG encoder 410 to produce a first decoded color difference signalU_(D), and a second decoded color difference signal V_(D). The firstdecoded color difference signal U_(D) and the second decoded colordifference signal V_(D) are coupled to, respectively, a second input offirst subtractor 406 and a second input of second subtractor 408.

First subtractor 408 subtracts the first decoded color difference signalU_(D) from the first full depth color difference signal U′ to produce afirst color sub differencing signal ?U. The second subtractor 408subtracts the second decoded color difference signal V_(D) from thesecond full depth color signal V′ to produce a second colorsub-difference signal ?V.

The first color sub-difference signal ?U is coupled to a luminance inputof second MPEG decoder 411. The second color sub-difference signal ?V iscoupled to a luminance input of third MPEG encoded 412. The second MPEGencoder 411 operates in a standard manner to compression code the firstcolor sub-difference signal ?U to produce a first encoded colorsub-difference signal C_(?U). The third MPEG encoder 412 operates in astandard manner to compression code the second color sub-differencesignal ?V to produce a second coded color difference sub-signal C_(?V).The first and second compression coded color sub-difference signalsC_(?U) and C_(?V) are coupled to multiplexer 440.

Multiplexer 440 multiplexes the compression coded output streams fromfirst MPEG encoder 410 (C_(YUV)), second MPEG encoder 411 (C_(?U)) andthird MPEG encoder 412 (C_(?V)) to form the compressed bit stream S21.

Referring now to the video decompression unit 43, the demultiplexer 450receives a compressed bit stream S42 corresponding to the compressed bitstream S21 produced at the output of multiplexer 440. The demultiplexer450 extracts from the compressed bitstream S42 three compressed videostreams corresponding to the outputs of first MPEG encoder 410(C_(YUV)), second MPEG encoder 411 (C_(?V)) and third MPEG encoder 412(C_(?V)). Specifically, demultiplexer 450 extracts, and couples to aninput of a second MPEG decoder 421, the compressed YUV stream C_(YUV)produced by MPEG encoder 410. Demultiplexer 450 also extracts, andcouples to an input of the third MPEG decoder 422, the compressed firstcolor sub-difference stream C_(?U). Demultiplexer 450 also extracts, andcouples to an input of the fourth MPEG decoder 423, the compressedsecond color sub-difference stream C_(?V).

Second MPEG decoder 421 decodes the compressed YUV stream C_(YUV) in astandard manner using, illustratively, 4:2:0 decompression to produce aluminance signal Y, a first low pass filtered and decimated colordifference signal U and a second low pass filtered and decimated colordifference signal V. Luminance signal Y is coupled directly to formatconverter 470. First low pass filtered and decimated color differencesignal U is coupled to a first input of first adder 466. Second low passfiltered and decimated color difference signal V is coupled to a firstinput of second adder 468.

Third MPEG decoder 422 operates in a standard manner to decode the firstencoded color sub-difference signal C_(?U), to produce at a luminanceoutput a first color sub-difference signal ?U. Fourth MPEG decoder 423operates in a standard manner to decode second encoded colorsub-difference C_(?V) produced at a luminance output a second colorsub-difference signal ?V. First and second color sub-difference signal?U and ?V are coupled to, respectively, a second input of first adder466, and a second input of second adder 468.

First adder 466 operates in a standard manner to add first low passfiltered and decimated color difference signal U and first colorsub-difference signal ?U to produce at an output a first full depthcolor difference signal U′, which is then coupled to format converter470. Second adder 468 operates in a standard manner to add second lowpass filtered and decimated color difference signal V to second colorsub-difference signal ?V to produce at an output a second full depthcolor difference signal V′, which is coupled to format converter 470.

Format converter 470 operates in a standard manner to covert full depthluminance signal Y, full depth first color difference signal U′ andsecond full depth color difference signal V′ to red R, green G and blueB RGB space output signals.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the MPEG encoders 410 through 412, and theMPEG decoders 420 through 423 are standard (i.e., inexpensive) MPEGencoders and decoders that are typically used to operate upon videoinformation signals according to the well known 4:2:0 resolution format.The video compression unit 21 of FIG. 4 operates to produce 3 compressedsignals, C_(YUV), C_(?U), and C_(?V). The two compressed colorsub-difference signals, C_(?U) and C_(?V), are representative of thedifference between the full depth color difference signals U′ and V′ andthe low pass filtered and decimated color difference signals U and Vincorporated with the compressed output stream C_(YUV) of the MPEGencoder 410.

MPEG decoder 420 is used to retrieve the actual color difference signalsU_(D) and V_(D) incorporated within the compressed output stream ofoutput encoder 410. The derived color difference signals are thensubtracted from the full depth color difference signals to produce theirrespective color sub-difference signals. The color sub-differencesignals are then encoded by respective MPEG encoders and multiplexed bymultiplexer 440.

The video decompression unit operates to decode the C_(YUV), C_(?U), andC_(?V) signals to produce respectively YUV, ?U, and ?V signals. Thecolor sub-difference signal ?U is added back to the decoded colordifference signal U to produce the full depth color difference signal U.Similarly, the color sub-difference signal ?V is added back to the colordifference signal V to produce a full depth color difference signal V′.In this manner standard MPEG encoders and decoders are used toinexpensively implement a system capable of producing 4:4:4 luma/chromavideo information signals.

FIG. 5A depicts a high level block diagram of an alternate embodiment ofa video compression unit 21 according to the invention and suitable foruse in the audio-visual information delivery system of FIG. 1. FIGS. 5Band 5C depict respective high level block diagrams of an alternateembodiment of a video decompression unit 43 according to the inventionand suitable for use in an audio-visual information delivery systememploying the video compression unit 21 of FIG. 5A.

The video compression unit 21 and video decompression unit 43 depictedin FIGS. 5A-5C are based on the inventor's recognition that YIQ videorepresentations of video require less bandwidth than YUV representationsof the same video. Specifically, the color components of a YUVrepresentation (i.e., the U and V color difference signals) require thesame amount of bandwidth within standard MPEG systems. Historically, theYUV representations are based on the European PAL analog televisionscheme. By contrast, the United States NTSC analog television schemeutilizes a YIQ representation of video. The YIQ representation utilizesa lower bandwidth for the Q component than for the I component. This ispossible because the Q color vector represents a “purplish” portion ofthe chrominance spectrum, and a slight degradation in accuracy in thisportion of the spectrum is not readily apparent to the human eye. Thus,the total bandwidth requirement of a YIQ representation of a videosignal is less than the total bandwidth requirement for a YUV videosignal, while providing comparable picture quality.

Referring now to FIG. 5A. The video compression unit 21 depicted in FIG.5A comprises a format converter 502, a pair of “low horizontal, lowvertical” (LL) spatial filters 504 and 506, a “low horizontal, highvertical” (LH) spatial filter 508, a “high horizontal, low vertical”(HL) spatial filter 510, a pair of spatial frequency translators (i.e.,downconverters) 509 and 511, a pair of MPEG encoders 520 and 522 and amultiplexer 440.

The format converter 502 converts an input RGB video signal S1R, S1G andS1B into a full depth luminance signal Y, a full depth in-phasechrominance signal I′ and a full depth quadrature-phase chrominancesignal Q′. The full depth luminance signal Y is coupled to a luminanceinput Y of first MPEG encoder 520. The full depth in-phase chrominancesignal I′ and full depth quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q′ arecoupled to, respectively, first LL spatial filter 504 and second LLspatial filter 506. The full depth quadrature-phase chrominance signalQ′ is also coupled to LH spatial filter 508 and HL spatial filter 510.The full depth in-phase chrominance signal I′ is also coupled to aluminance input Y of the second MPEG decoder 522.

The LL spatial filter 504 operates in a known manner to horizontally lowpass filter and vertically low pass filter the full depth in-phasechrominance signal I′ to produce an LL spatial filtered and subsampledin-phase chrominance signal I_(LL), which is then coupled to a firstchrominance input of MPEG encoder 520. The LL spatial filter 506operates in a known manner to horizontally low pass filter andvertically low pass filter the full depth quadrature-phase chrominancesignal Q′ to produce an LL spatial filtered and subsampledquadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(LL), which is then coupled to asecond chrominance input of MPEG encoder 520.

First MPEG encoder 520 operates in a known manner to produce,illustratively, a 4:2:0 compressed output stream C_(YIQ). The first MPEGencoded output stream C_(YIQ) is coupled to a first input of multiplexer524.

A graphical depiction illustratives the relative spatial frequencycomposition of the constituent signals of first MPEG encoded outputstream C_(YIQ) 520G is provided to help illustrate the operation of theLL spatial filters 504 and 506.

Graphical depiction 520G shows three boxes of equal size. Each boxillustrates the spatial frequency composition of an image component(i.e., Y, I or Q) by depicting the vertical frequencies of the imagecomponent as a function of the horizontal frequencies of the imagecomponent (i.e., f_(v) v. f_(h)).

The first box represents the spatial frequency composition of the fulldepth luminance signal Y, the second box represents the spatialfrequency composition of the LL spatial filtered and subsampled in-phasechrominance signal I_(LL) and the third box represents the spatialfrequency composition of the LL spatial filtered and subsampledquadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(LL). A box may be divided intofour quadrants, a low horizontal frequency low vertical frequency (LL)quadrant at the lower left, a low horizontal frequency high verticalfrequency (LH) quadrant at the upper left, a high horizontal frequencylow vertical frequency (HL) quadrant at the lower right and a highhorizontal frequency high vertical frequency (HH) quadrant at the upperright. Information within a quadrant may be spectrally shifted toanother quadrant in a known manner using frequency converters.

It can be seen by inspection that the full depth luminance signal Yoccupies the entire box (i.e., retains full spatial frequencycomposition). However, both the LL spatial filtered and subsampledin-phase chrominance signal I_(LL) and quadrature-phase chrominancesignal Q_(LL) occupy only the lower left quadrant of their respectiveboxes (i.e., ½ the original spatial frequency composition in each of thevertical and horizontal directions). The shaded portions of the secondand third boxes represent those portions of spatial frequencycomposition that have been removed by the operation of, respectively,the LL spatial filters 504 and 506.

Spatial filters that divide images into the above-described frequencyquadrants are well known in the art. For example, quadrature mirrorfilters (QMF) are suitable for performing this function. Thus, a skilledpractitioner may implement LL spatial filters 504 and 506, LH spatialfilter 508 and HL spatial filter 510 using QMF techniques.

The LH spatial filter 508 operates in a known manner to horizontally lowpass and vertically high pass filter the full depth quadrature-phasechrominance signal Q′ to produce an LH spatial filtered and subsampledquadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(LH), which is then coupled to thefirst frequency downconverter 509. The first frequency downconverter 509operates in a known manner to shift the spectral energy of the LHspatial filtered and subsampled quadrature-phase chrominance signalQ_(LH) from the LH quadrant to the LL quadrant. The resulting spectrallyshifted quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(LH′) is then coupled to afirst chrominance input of the second MPEG encoder 522.

The HL spatial filter 510 operates in a known manner to horizontallyhigh pass and vertically low pass filter the full depth quadrature-phasechrominance signal Q′ to produce an LH spatial filtered and subsampledquadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(HL), which is then coupled to thesecond frequency downconverter 511. The second frequency downconverter511 operates in a known manner to shift the spectral energy of the HLspatial filtered and subsampled quadrature-phase chrominance signalQ_(HL) from the HL quadrant to the LL quadrant. The resulting spectrallyshifted quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(HL′) is then coupled to asecond chrominance input of the second MPEG encoder 522.

Second MPEG encoder 522 operates in a known manner to produce,illustratively, a 4:2:0 compressed output stream C_(I′Q). The secondMPEG encoded output stream C_(I′Q) is coupled to a second input ofmultiplexer 524.

Multiplexer 524 multiplexes the compression coded output streams fromfirst MPEG encoder 520 (C_(YIQ)) and second MPEG encoder 522 (C_(IQ′))to form the compressed bit stream S21.

A graphical depiction illustrative the relative spatial frequencycomposition of the constituent signals of second MPEG encoded outputstream C_(I′Q) 522G is provided to help illustrate the operation of theLH spatial filter 508, HL spatial filter 510 and frequencydownconverters 509 and 511.

Graphical depiction 522G shows three boxes of equal size. The first boxrepresents the spatial frequency composition of the full depth in-phasechrominance signal I′, the second box represents the spatial frequencycomposition of the HL spatial filtered and subsampled, frequencydownconverted, quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(HL′), and thethird box represents the spatial frequency composition of the LH spatialfiltered and subsampled, frequency downconverted, quadrature-phasechrominance signal Q_(LH′).

It can be seen by inspection that the full depth in-phase chrominancesignal I′ occupies the entire box (i.e., retains full spatial frequencycomposition). However, both the LH spatial filtered and subsampled,frequency downconverted, quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(LH′) andthe HL spatial filtered and subsampled, frequency downconverted,quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(HL′) OCCUPY only the lower leftquadrant of their respective boxes (i.e., ½ the original spatialfrequency composition in each of the vertical and horizontaldirections). The shaded portions of the second and third boxes (alongwith the lower left quadrants) represent those portions of spatialfrequency composition that have been removed by the operation of,respectively, the HL spatial filter 510 and the LH spatial filter 508.The Q_(LH′) and Q_(HL′) were spectrally shifted by, respectively,frequency downconverters 509 and 511 to the LL quadrant from thequadrants indicated by the arrows.

The multiplexed output stream S21 comprises a full depth luminancesignal Y, a full depth in-phase chrominance signal I′ and a partialresolution quadrature-phase chrominance signal (Q+Q_(LH′)+Q_(HL′)). Ineffect, the multiplexed output stream S21 comprises a 4:4:3 coded YIQrepresentation of video information. However, it is known in thetelevision arts to reconstruct an RGB (or YUV) format television signalusing the YIQ format television signal comprising a full bandwidthluminance signal, full bandwidth in-phase chrominance signal and partialbandwidth quadrature-phase chrominance signal. Thus, as previouslydescribed, the video compression unit 21 embodiment of FIG. 5Aadvantageously exploits the non-symmetrical bandwidth of chrominancecomponents within a YIQ formatted television signal to achieve a furtherreduction in circuit complexity.

FIGS. 5B and 5C depict respective high level block diagrams of analternate embodiment of a video decompression unit according to theinvention and suitable for use in an audio-visual information deliverysystem employing the video compression unit 21 of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5B depicts a video decompression unit 43 comprising a demultiplexer530, an MPEG decoder 543 and a format converter 550. The demultiplexer530 receives a compressed bit stream S42 corresponding to the compressedbit stream S21 produced at the output of multiplexer 524. Thedemultiplexer 530 extracts, and couples to the MPEG decoder 543, thecompressed video stream corresponding to the output of the first MPEGencoder 520 of FIG. 5A (C_(YIQ)).

The MPEG decoder 543 decodes the compressed stream C_(YIQ) in a standardmanner using, illustratively, 4:2:0 decompression to retrieve the fulldepth luminance signal Y, LL spatial filtered and subsampled in-phasechrominance signal I_(LL) and LL spatial filtered and subsampledquadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(LL), each of which is coupled tothe format converter 550.

Format converter 550 operates in a standard manner to convert the YIQspace video signal comprising full depth luminance signal Y, LL spatialfiltered and subsampled in-phase chrominance signal I_(LL) and LLspatial filtered and subsampled quadrature-phase chrominance signalQ_(LL) to red R, green G and blue B RGB space output signals.

FIG. 5C depicts a video decompression unit 43 comprising a demultiplexer530, first and second MPEG decoders 542 and 544, a pair of frequencyupconverters 546 and 548, an adder 552 and a format converter 550. Thedemultiplexer 530 receives a compressed bit stream S42 corresponding tothe compressed bit stream S21 produced at the output of multiplexer 524.The demultiplexer 530 extracts, and couples to the first MPEG decoder542, the compressed video stream corresponding to the output of thefirst MPEG encoder 520 of FIG. 5A (C_(YIQ)). The demultiplexer 530extracts, and couples to the second MPEG decoder 544, the compressedvideo stream corresponding to the output of the second MPEG encoder 522of FIG. 5A (C_(I′Q)).

The first MPEG decoder 542 decodes the compressed YIQ stream C_(YIQ) ina standard manner using, illustratively, 4:2:0 decompression to retrievethe full depth luminance signal Y and the LL spatial filtered andsubsampled quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(LL). It should benoted that while a standard MPEG decoder will also retrieve the LLspatial filtered and subsampled in-phase chrominance signal I_(LL), thissignal is not used in the video decompression unit 43 of FIG. 5C. Thefull depth luminance signal Y is coupled to a luminance input of theformat converter 550. The LL spatial filtered and subsampledquadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(LL) is coupled to a first inputof the adder 552.

The second MPEG decoder 544 decodes the compressed stream C_(I′Q) in astandard manner using, illustratively, 4:2:0 decompression to retrievethe full depth in-phase chrominance signal I′, the LH spatial filteredand subsampled, frequency downconverted, quadrature-phase chrominancesignal Q_(LH′), and the HL spatial filtered and subsampled, frequencydownconverted, quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(HL′). The fulldepth in-phase chrominance signal I′ is coupled to a first chrominanceinput of format converter 550. The LH spatial filtered and subsampled,frequency downconverted, quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(LH′) iscoupled to the first frequency upconverter 546. The HL spatial filteredand subsampled, frequency downconverted, quadrature-phase chrominancesignal Q_(HL′) is coupled to the second frequency upconverter 548.

The frequency upconverter 546 operates in a known manner to upconvertthe LH spatial filtered and subsampled, frequency downconverted,quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(LH′) to produce LH spatialfiltered and subsampled quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(LH′) Thatis, the frequency upconverter 546 shifts the spectral energy of the LHspatial filtered and subsampled, frequency downconverted,quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(LH′) from the LL quadrant to theLH quadrant. The resulting upconverted signal Q_(LH) is coupled to asecond input of adder 552.

The frequency upconverter 548 operates in a known manner to upconvertthe HL spatial filtered and subsampled, frequency downconverted,quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(HL′) to produce HL spatialfiltered and subsampled quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(HL). Thatis, the frequency upconverter 546 shifts the spectral energy of the HLspatial filtered and subsampled, frequency downconverted,quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(HL′) from the LL quadrant to theHL quadrant. The resulting upconverted signal Q_(HL) is coupled to athird input of adder 552.

Adder 552 adds the LL spatial filtered and subsampled quadrature-phasechrominance signal Q_(LL) , the LH spatial filtered and subsampledquadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(LH) and the HL spatial filteredand subsampled quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q_(HL) to produce anear full-resolution quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q″. The nearfull-resolution quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q″ has a resolutionof approximately three fourths the resolution of the full depthquadrature-phase chrominance signal Q′. The near full-resolutionquadrature-phase chrominance signal Q″ is coupled to a secondchrominance input of format converter 550.

Format converter 550 operates in a standard manner to convert the YIQspace video signal comprising full depth luminance signal Y, the fulldepth in-phase chrominance signal I′ and the near full-resolutionquadrature-phase chrominance signal Q″ to red R, green G and blue B RGBspace output signals.

A graphical depiction 543G illustrative the relative spatial frequencycomposition of the constituent signals provided to the format converter550 is provided to help illustrate the invention.

Graphical depiction 543G shows three boxes of equal size. The first boxrepresents the spatial frequency composition of the full depth luminancesignal Y, the second box the spatial frequency composition of the fulldepth in-phase chrominance signal I′ and the third box represents thespatial frequency composition of the near full-resolutionquadrature-phase chrominance signal Q″.

It can be seen by inspection that the full depth luminance signal Y andthe in-phase chrominance signal I′ occupy the entirety of theirrespective boxes. By contrast, the near full-resolution quadrature-phasechrominance signal Q″ occupies three fourths of its box. The shadedportion of the third box represent the portion of the full depthquadrature-phase chrominance signal Q′ removed by the operation of thevideo compression unit 21 of FIG. 5A.

It must be noted that the near full-resolution quadrature-phasechrominance signal Q″ only lacks information from HH quadrant (i.e., thehigh frequency horizontal and high frequency vertical quadrant).However, a loss of information from the HH quadrant is less discernibleto the human eye than a loss of information from one of the otherquadrants. Moreover, the full depth in-phase chrominance signal I′ maybe used in a standard manner to provide some of this information. Thus,to the extent that the quadrature-phase chrominance signal Q″ iscompromised, the impact of that compromise is relatively low, and thecompromise may be ameliorated somewhat using standard YIQ processingtechniques.

The invention has been described thus far as operating on, e.g., 4:4:4resolution MPEG video signals having a standard 8-bit dynamic range. The8-bit dynamic range is used because standard (i.e., “off the shelf”)components such as the MPEG encoders, decoders, multiplexers and othercomponents described above in the various figures tend to be adapted ormass produced in response to the need of the 8-bit television and videocommunity.

While an 8-bit dynamic range at 4:4:4 coding provides impressive picturequality, it may not be sufficient for the electronic cinema qualityapplications. Thus, the following portion of the disclosure will addressmodifications to the above figures suitable for implementing a highdynamic range system, illustratively a 10-bit dynamic range system.Specifically, an enhanced MPEG encoder and associated enhanced MPEGdecoder will now be described. The enhanced encoder and decoder arebased on the regional pixel depth compaction method and apparatusdescribed in detail in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/050,304, filed on Mar. 30, 1998, and Provisional U.S. PatentApplication No. 60/071,294, filed on Jan. 16, 1998, both of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Briefly, the described method and apparatus segments a relatively highdynamic range signal into a plurality of segments (e.g., macroblockswithin a video signal); determines the maximum and minimum values of aparameter of interest (e.g., a luminance, chrominance or motion vectorparameter) within each segment, remaps each value of a parameter ofinterest to, e.g., a lower dynamic range defined by the maximum andminimum values of the parameter of interest; encodes the remappedsegments in a standard (e.g., lower dynamic range) manner; multiplexesthe encoded remapped information segments and associated maximum andminimum parameter values to form a transport stream for subsequenttransport to a receiving unit, where the process is reversed to retrievethe original, relatively high dynamic range signal. A technique forenhancing color depth on a regional basis can be used as part of thedigitizing step to produce better picture quality in the images and isdisclosed in the above-referenced Provisional U.S. patent application.

FIG. 6A depicts an enhanced bandwidth MPEG encoder. Specifically, FIG.6A depicts a standard MPEG encoder 620 and an associated regional mapand scale unit 610 that together form an enhanced bandwidth MPEGencoder.

The region map and scale unit 610 receives a relatively high dynamicrange information signal Y₁₀, illustratively a 10-bit dynamic rangeluminance signal, from an information source such as a video source (notshown). The region map and scale unit 610 divides eachpicture-representative, frame-representative or field-representativeportion of the relatively high dynamic range information signal Y₁₀ intoa plurality of, respectively, sub-picture regions, sub-frame regions orsub-field regions. These sub-regions comprise, illustratively, fixed orvariable coordinate regions based on picture, frame, field, slicemacroblock, block and pixel location, related motion vector informationand the like. In the case of a video information stream, an exemplaryregion comprises a macroblock region size.

Each of the plurality of sub-regions are processed to identify,illustratively, a maximum luminance level (Y_(MAX)) and a minimumluminance level (Y_(MIN)) utilized by pixels within the processedregion. The luminance information within each region is then scaled(i.e., remapped) from, illustratively, the original 10-bit dynamic range(i.e., 0 to 1023) to an 8-bit dynamic range (i.e., 0-255) having upperand lower limits corresponding to the identified minimum luminance level(Y_(MIN)) and maximum luminance level (Y_(MAX)) of the respective regionto produce, at an output, an relatively low dynamic range,illustratively 8-bit, information signal Y₈. The maximum and minimumvalues associated with each region, and information identifying theregion, are coupled to an output as a map region ID signal.

An encoder 610, illustratively an MPEG-like video encoder, receives theremapped, relatively low dynamic range information signal Y₈ from theregion map and scale unit 610. The video encoder 15 encodes therelatively low dynamic range information signal Y₈ to produce acompressed video signal C_(Y8), illustratively an MPEG-like videoelementary stream.

The above described enhanced MPEG encoder may be used to replace any ofthe standard MPEG encoders depicted in any of the previous figures. Itshould be noted that the exemplary enhanced MPEG encoder is shown ascompressing a 10-bit luminance signal Y10 into an 8-bit luminance signalY8 that is coupled to a luminance input of a standard MPEG encoder. Aspreviously discussed, the signal applied to the luminance input (Y) ofan MPEG encoder is typically encoded at a full depth of 8-bits, whilesignals applied to the chrominance inputs (U, V) of the MPEG encoder aretypically encoded at less than full depth, such that the encodernominally produces a 4:2:0 compressed signal. It must be noted that theregion map and scale unit (or an additional unit) may be used to adapt arelatively high dynamic range signal (e.g., 10-bit) to the less thanfull depth range required for the MPEG encoder chrominance input. Suchan adaptation is contemplated by the inventor to be within the scope ofhis invention.

FIG. 6B depicts an enhanced bandwidth MPEG decoder that is suitable foruse in a system employing the enhanced bandwidth MPEG encoder of FIG.6A. Specifically, FIG. 6B depicts a standard MPEG decoder 630 and anassociated inverse regional map and scale unit 630 that together form anenhanced bandwidth MPEG decoder.

The decoder 630, illustratively an MPEG-like video decoder, receives anddecodes, in a known manner, the compressed video signal C_(Y8) toretrieve the relatively low dynamic range information signal Y₈, whichis then coupled to the inverse region map and scale unit 630.

The inverse region map and scale unit 630 receives the relatively lowdynamic range information signal Y₈, illustratively an 8-bit luminancesignal, and the associated map region ID signal. The inverse region mapand scale unit 630 remaps the 8-bit baseband video signal S13, on aregion by region basis, to produce a 10-bit video signal S15corresponding to the original 10-bit dynamic range video signal S1. Theproduced 10-bit video signal is coupled to a video processor (not shown)for further processing. The inverse region map and scale unit 60retrieves, from the map region ID signal S14, the previously identifiedmaximum luminance level (Y_(MAX)) and minimum luminance level (Y_(MIN))associated with each picture, frame or field sub-region, and anyidentifying information necessary to associate the retrieved maximum andminimum values with a particular sub-region within relatively lowdynamic range information signal Y₈. The luminance informationassociated with each region is then scaled (i.e., remapped) from the8-bit dynamic range bounded by the identified minimum luminance level(Y_(MIN)) and maximum luminance level (Y_(MAX)) associated with theregion to the original 10-bit (i.e., 0-1023) dynamic range tosubstantially reproduce the original 10-bit luminance signal Y₁₀.

Since the map region ID signal is necessary to restore the originaldynamic range of the compressed video signal C_(Y8), both of the signalsare coupled to a decoder, such as the enhanced MPEG decoder of FIG. 6B.These signals may be coupled to the enhanced decoder directly or via atransport mechanism. For example, in the case of an enhanced encoderproviding an encoded bitstream to a multiplexer (e.g., MPEG encoder 218Rand multiplexer 219 of FIG. 2), the associated map region ID may beincluded as a distinct multiplexed stream or as part of a user stream.An enhanced decoder will retrieve both stream in a standard manner froma demultiplexer (e.g., MPEG decoder 432R and demultiplexer 431 of FIG.2).

It is crucial to note that any MPEG encoder depicted in any of thepreceding figures may be replaced with the enhanced MPEG encoderdepicted in FIG. 6A. Similarly, any MPEG decoder depicted in any of thepreceding figures may be replaced with the enhanced MPEG decoderdepicted in FIG. 6B. In the event that an enhanced decoder is usedwithout a corresponding enhanced encoder, the inverse region map andscale unit 630 will not provide an enhancement function. However, therelatively low dynamic range signal applied to the inverse region mapand scale unit 630 will not be further degraded.

Thus, by judicious application of the enhanced MPEG encoder and enhancedMPEG decoder of, respectively, FIGS. 6A and 6B in the above embodimentsof the invention, enhanced dynamic range for both luminance andchrominance components in an electronic cinema quality system may berealized. Moreover, the embodiments described may be implemented in aneconomical manner using primarily off-the-shelf components.

Although various embodiments which incorporate the teachings of thepresent invention have been shown and described in detail herein, thoseskilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments thatstill incorporate these teachings.

1. An apparatus for configured to processing process a video informationsignal comprising a plurality of full dynamic range components, saidapparatus comprising: a compression encoder providing at leastinter-frame coding, for configured to compression encoding encode saidvideo information signal in a manner substantially retaining said fulldynamic range of said full dynamic range components, said compressionencoder comprising at least two standard encoders, each of said standardencoders being responsive to up to three component video signals, eachof said standard compression encoders tending to substantially preservea dynamic range and spatial resolution of one component of said videosignal, each of said standard compression encoders providing acompressed output video signal; and a multiplexer, for multiplexingconfigured to multiplex said compressed output video signals of said twoor more standard compression encoders to produce a multiplexedinformation stream.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: anencryption encoder, for configured to encrypting encrypt at least one ofsaid compressed output video signals of said two or more standardcompression encoders according to one of a watermarking process and anencryption process.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: ademultiplexer, for demultiplexing configured to demultiplex saidmultiplexed information stream to retrieve said compressed output videosignals of produced by said two or more standard compression encoders;and a compression decoder, for configured to compression decoding saiddecode the retrieved compressed output video signals of produced by saidtwo or more standard compression encoders to produce a retrieved videoinformation signal, said compression decoder comprising at least twostandard decoders, each of said standard decoders receiving a respectiveone of said the retrieved compressed output video signals, each of saidstandard compression decoders being responsive to up to three componentvideo signals within said respective one of the retrieved compressedoutput video signal signals, each of said standard compression decoderstending to substantially preserve a dynamic range and spatial resolutionof one component within said respective one of the retrieved compressedoutput video signal signals.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, furthercomprising: an encryption decoder, for encrypting configured to decryptat least one of said compressed output video signals of said two or morestandard compression encoders according to one of a watermarking processand an encryption a decryption process.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 2,further comprising: a transport encoder, for configured to transportencoding encode said multiplexed information stream to produce atransport encoded information stream; means for transporting saidtransport encoded information stream; and a transport decoder, forretrieving configured to retrieve said multiplexed information streamfrom said transport encoded information stream.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 4, further comprising: a store for distribution unit, for storingconfigured to store one or more multiplexed information streams; atransport encoder, for configured to transport encoding encode said oneor more multiplexed information streams to produce a transport encodedinformation stream; means for transporting said transport encodedinformation stream; a transport decoder, for retrieving configured toretrieve said one or more multiplexed information streams from saidtransport encoded information stream; and a store for display unit, forstoring configured to store said retrieved one or more multiplexedinformation streams.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: ademultiplexer, for demultiplexing configured to demultiplex saidmultiplexed information stream to retrieve said compressed output videosignals of said two or more standard compression encoders; and acompression decoder, for configured to compression decoding decode saidretrieved compressed output video signals of said two or more standardcompression encoders to produce a retrieved video information signal,said compression decoder comprising at least two standard decoders, eachof said standard decoders receiving a respective one of said retrievedcompressed output video signals, each of said standard compressiondecoders being responsive to up to three component video signals withinsaid respective one compressed video signal, each of said standardcompression decoders tending to substantially preserve a dynamic rangeand spatial resolution of one component within said respective onecompressed video signal.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, furthercomprising: a demultiplexer, for demultiplexing configured todemultiplex said multiplexed information stream to retrieve saidcompressed output video signals of said two or more standard compressionencoders; and a compression decoder, for configured to compressiondecoding decode said retrieved compressed output video signals of saidtwo or more standard compression encoders to produce a retrieved videoinformation signal, said compression decoder comprising at least twostandard decoders, each of said standard decoders receiving a respectiveone of said retrieved compressed output video signals, each of saidstandard compression decoders being responsive to up to three componentvideo signals within said respective one compressed video signal, eachof said standard compression decoders tending to substantially preservea dynamic range and spatial resolution of one component within saidrespective one compressed video signal.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7,further comprising a display device, for displaying configured todisplay said retrieved video information signal.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising: a demultiplexer, for demultiplexingconfigured to demultiplex said multiplexed information stream toretrieve said compressed output video signals of said two or morestandard compression encoders; and one or more compression decoders, forconfigured to compression decoding decode respective retrievedcompressed output video signals of said two or more standard compressionencoders to produce respective retrieved video information signals, saidone or more compression decoders each comprising at least two standarddecoders, each of said standard decoders receiving a respective one ofsaid retrieved compressed output video signals, each of said standardcompression decoders being responsive to up to three component videosignals within said respective one compressed video signal, each of saidstandard compression decoders tending to substantially preserve adynamic range and spatial resolution of one component within saidrespective one compressed video signal.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10,wherein: each of said one or more compression decoders is associatedwith a display device, said display device for displaying configured todisplay said retrieved video information signal.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said compression encoder further comprises: at leastone regional map and scale unit associated with each of said at leasttwo standard encoders, for segmenting configured to segment a componentvideo signal into one or more information regions, and for remapping oneor more relatively high dynamic range information parameters associatedwith each information region according to respective intra-regioninformation parameter maxima and minima to produce a remapped componentvideo signal and an associated map region identification stream, saidone or more remapped information parameters having a relatively lowdynamic range; and an compression encoder, coupled to said regional mapand scale unit, for configured to compression encoding encode saidremapped information stream to produce a compression encoded informationstream.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: a transportencoder, coupled to said regional map and scale unit and saidcompression encoder, for configured to transport encoding encode saidcompression encoded information stream and said map regionidentification stream to produce a transport stream.
 14. The apparatusof claim 13, further comprising: a transport decoder, coupled to receivesaid transport stream, for configured to transport decoding decode saidtransport stream to recover said compression encoded information streamand said associated map region identification stream; a compressiondecoder, coupled to said transport decoder, for configured tocompression decoding decode said recovered compression encodedinformation stream to recover said remapped information stream; and aninverse regional map and scale unit, coupled to said compression decoderand said transport decoder, for configured to inverse remapping remapsaid recovered remapped information stream according to said associatedmap region identification stream to substantially recover saidinformation stream.
 15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein: saidinformation stream comprises at least a video information stream; saidcompression encoder comprises an MPEG-like compression encoder; and saidtransport encoder comprises an MPEG-like transport encoder.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 12, wherein: said regional map and scale unit impartsa transfer characteristic to said remapped information stream comprisingat least one of a gamma correction characteristic, a compandingcharacteristic, a statistical redistribution characteristic, a simplelinear characteristic, an arbitrary polynomial characteristic and apre-determined function characteristic.
 17. The apparatus of claim 12,wherein each information region is defined with respect to one of apicture, frame, field, slice, macroblock, block, pixel location, andmotion vector.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said compressionencoder comprises: a first standard encoder, for encoding configured toencode a luminance component of said video signal in a mannersubstantially preserving a dynamic range and spatial resolution of saidluminance component; a second standard encoder, for encoding configuredto encode a first chrominance component of said video signal in a mannersubstantially preserving a dynamic range and spatial resolution of saidfirst chrominance component; and a third standard encoder, for encodingconfigured to encode a second chrominance component of said video signalin a manner substantially preserving a dynamic range and spatialresolution of said second chrominance component.
 19. The apparatus ofclaim 3, wherein said compression decoder comprises: a first standarddecoder, for decoding configured to decode said luminance component ofsaid video signal in a manner substantially preserving said dynamicrange and spatial resolution of said luminance component; a secondstandard decoder, for decoding configured to decode said firstchrominance component of said video signal in a manner substantiallypreserving said dynamic range and spatial resolution of said firstchrominance component; and a third standard decoder, for decodingconfigured to decode said second chrominance component of said videosignal in a manner substantially preserving said dynamic range andspatial resolution of said second chrominance component.
 20. Apparatusfor processing An apparatus configured to process a video signal, saidvideo signal comprising a luminance component, a first color componentand a second color component, said video signal components havingrespective full dynamic ranges, said apparatus comprising: a firstcompression encoder, providing at least inter-frame coding, for encodingconfigured to encode said video signal to produce a first encoded videosignal, said first compression encoder encoding substantially the entiredynamic range of said luminance component of said video signal, a firstportion of said dynamic range of said first color component of saidvideo signal, and a first portion of said dynamic range of said secondcolor component of said video signal; and a second compression encoder,for encoding configured to encode a second portion of said dynamic rangeof said first color component of said video signal and a second portionof said dynamic range of said second color component of said videosignal.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising: a firstfilter complement, for filtering configured to filter said first colorcomponent of said video signal to produce a low pass filtered firstcolor component signal and a high pass filtered first color componentsignal; and a second filter complement, for filtering configured tofilter said second color component of said video signal to produce a lowpass filtered second color component signal and a high pass filteredsecond color component signal; said low pass filtered first colorcomponent signal and said low pass filtered second color componentsignal being coupled to said first compression encoder as first dynamicrange portions of, respectively, said first and second color componentsof said video signal; and said high pass filtered first color componentsignal and said high pass filtered second color component signal beingcoupled to said second compression encoder as second dynamic rangeportions of, respectively, said first and second color components ofsaid video signal.
 22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising: afirst low pass filter, for filtering configured to filter said firstcolor component of said video signal to produce a low pass filteredfirst color component signal, said low pass filtered first colorcomponent signal being coupled to said first compression encoder as afirst dynamic range portion of said first color component of said videosignal; and a second low pass filter, for filtering configured to filtersaid second color component of said video signal to produce a low passfiltered second color component signal, said low pass filtered secondcolor component signal being coupled to said first compression encoderas a first dynamic range portion of said second color component of saidvideo signal.
 23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said secondcompression encoder comprises: a decoder, for decoding configured todecode said first and second color components of said first encodedvideo signal to produce, respectively, a first decoded color componentsignal and a second decoded color component signal; a first subtractor,for substracting configured to subtract said first decoded colorcomponent signal from said first color component of said video signal toproduce a first color difference signal; a second subtractor, forsubstracting configured to subtract said second decoded color componentsignal from said second color component of said video signal to producea second color difference signal; a first standard compression encoder,receiving said first color difference signal at a nominally luminanceinput, for encoding configured to encode said first color differencesignal to produce an encoded first color difference signal; and a secondstandard compression encoder, receiving said second color differencesignal at a nominally luminance input, for encoding configured to encodesaid second color difference signal to produce an encoded second colordifference signal.
 24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said firstcolor component comprises an in-phase chrominance component, said secondcolor component comprises a quadrature-phase chrominance component, andsaid first compression encoder further comprises: a first horizontal lowpass/vertical low pass (LL) filter, for filtering configured to filtersaid first color component of said video signal to produce an LLfiltered first color component signal, said LL filtered first colorcomponent signal being coupled to said first compression encoder as afirst dynamic range portion of said first color component of said videosignal; and a second horizontal low pass/vertical low pass (LL) filter,for filtering configured to filter said second color component of saidvideo signal to produce an LL filtered second color component signal,said LL filtered second color component signal being coupled to saidfirst compression encoder as a first dynamic range portion of saidsecond color component of said video signal.
 25. Apparatus, for encodingAn apparatus configured to encode a video signal to produce an encodedvideo information stream, said video signal comprising a plurality offull dynamic range components, said apparatus comprising: a plurality ofstandard compression encoders providing at least inter-frame coding,each standard compression encoder comprising a substantially fulldynamic range encoding channel and a plurality of partial dynamic rangeencoding channels, each standard compression encoder being associatedwith a respective full dynamic range component of said video signal,each standard compression encoder encoding, using said respectivesubstantially full dynamic range encoding channel, said respective fulldynamic range component of said video signal to produce a respectivefull dynamic range encoded video signal component; a multiplexer, formultiplexing configured to multiplex said full dynamic range encodedvideo signal components produced by said standard compression encodersto produce said encoded video information stream.
 26. The apparatus ofclaim 25, further comprising: an encryption encoder, for encryptingconfigured to encrypt at least one of said compressed output videocomponent signals according to one of a watermarking process and anencryption process.
 27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said dynamicrange of at least one of said full dynamic range components exceeds adynamic range of said plurality of standard compression encoders, saidapparatus further comprising: a respective regional map and scale unitassociated with each of said exceeding full dynamic range components,for segmenting configured to segment said respective exceeding fulldynamic range component into one or more information regions, and forremapping configured to remap one or more relatively high dynamic rangeinformation parameters associated with each information region accordingto respective intra-region information parameter maxima and minima toproduce a remapped component video signal and an associated map regionidentification stream, said one or more remapped information parametershaving a relatively low dynamic range; and a compression encoder,coupled to each respective regional map and scale unit, for configuredto compression encoding encode said respective remapped informationstream to produce a respective compression encoded map informationstream.
 28. Apparatus, for encoding An apparatus configured to encode avideo signal to produce an encoded video information stream, said videosignal comprising a full dynamic range luminance component, a fulldynamic range first chrominance component and a full dynamic rangesecond chrominance component, said apparatus comprising; a first filter,responsive to said full dynamic range first chrominance component toproduce a low pass filtered first chrominance component; a secondfilter, responsive to said full dynamic range second chrominancecomponent to produce a low pass filtered second chrominance component; afirst compression encoder providing at least inter-frame coding,comprising a relatively high dynamic range encoding channel, forencoding configured to encode said full dynamic range luminancecomponent, and a pair of relatively low dynamic range encoding channelsfor encoding configured to encode said low pass filtered first andsecond chrominance components; a second compression encoder, forencoding configured to encode at least those portions of said fulldynamic range first and second chrominance components not provided tosaid first compression encoder; a multiplexer, for multiplexingconfigured to multiplex said encoded video components to produce saidencoded video information stream.
 29. The apparatus of claim 28, furthercomprising: an encryption encoder, for encrypting configured to encryptat least one of said compressed output video component signals accordingto one of a watermarking process and an encryption process.
 30. Theapparatus of claim 28, wherein said dynamic range of at least one ofsaid full dynamic range components exceeds a dynamic range of saidplurality of standard compression encoders, said apparatus furthercomprising: a respective regional map and scale unit associated witheach of said exceeding full dynamic range components, for segmentingconfigured to segment said respective exceeding full dynamic rangecomponent into one or more information regions, and for remappingconfigured to remap one or more relatively high dynamic rangeinformation parameters associated with each information region accordingto respective intra-region information parameter maxima and minima toproduce a remapped component video signal and an associated map regionidentification stream, said one or more remapped information parametershaving a relatively low dynamic range; and a compression encoder,coupled to each respective regional map and scale unit, for configuredto compression encoding encode said respective remapped informationstream to produce a respective compression encoded map informationstream.
 31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein: said first filterproduces a high pass filtered first chrominance component; said secondfilter produces a high pass filtered second chrominance component; andsaid high pass filtered first chrominance component and said high passfiltered second chrominance component comprising said portions of saidfull dynamic range first and second chrominance components not providedto said first compression encoder.
 32. The apparatus of claim 28,wherein said first and second filters comprise filter complements. 33.The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said second encoder comprises: afirst standard encoder including a relatively high dynamic rangeencoding channel for encoding configured to encode said portions of saidfull dynamic range first chrominance component not provided to saidfirst encoder; and a second standard encoder including a relatively highdynamic range encoding channel for encoding configured to encode saidportions of said full dynamic range second chrominance component notprovided to said first encoder.
 34. The apparatus of claim 28, furthercomprising: a decoder, for decoding configured to decode said encodedlow pass filtered first and second chrominance components produced bysaid first encoder; a first subtractor, for substracting configured tosubtract said decoded low pass filtered first chrominance component fromsaid full dynamic first chrominance component to produce a firstdifference component for encoding by said second encoder; and a secondsubtractor, for substracting configured to subtract said decoded lowpass filtered second chrominance component from said full dynamic secondchrominance component to produce a second difference component forencoding by said second encoder.
 35. The apparatus of claim 28, whereinsaid first and second filters comprise low horizontal frequency, lowvertical frequency (LL) spatial filters; said low pass filtered firstchrominance component comprises primarily low horizontal frequency andlow vertical frequency components of said full dynamic range firstchrominance component; and said low pass filtered second chrominancecomponent comprises primarily low horizontal frequency and low verticalfrequency components of said full dynamic range second chrominancecomponent.
 36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising: a lowhorizontal frequency, high vertical frequency (LH) spatial filter, forfiltering configured to filter one of said first and second full dynamicrange chrominance components to produce first spatially filtered signal;a high horizontal frequency, low vertical frequency (HL) spatial filter,for filtering configured to filter said one of said first and secondfull dynamic range chrominance components to produce a second spatiallyfiltered signal; and first and second frequency downconverters, fordownconverting configured to downconvert, respectively, said first andsecond spatially filtered signals; said second compression encoderencoding said other one of said first and second full dynamic rangechrominance components, said first spatially filtered signal and saidsecond spatially filtered signal.
 37. The apparatus of claim 36, whereinsaid second compression encoder comprises a relatively high dynamicrange encoding channel and two relatively low dynamic range encodingchannels, said relatively high dynamic range encoding channel being usedto compression encode said other one of said first and second fulldynamic range chrominance components, said two relatively low dynamicrange encoding channels being used to compression encode, respectively,said first and second spatially filtered signals.
 38. Apparatus, fordecoding An apparatus configured to decode a video information stream torecover a video signal, said video information stream comprising aplurality of substantially full dynamic range encoded video signalcomponents, said apparatus comprising: a demultiplexer, for extractingconfigured to ex tract from said video information stream said pluralityof substantially full dynamic range encoded video signal components; anda plurality of standard compression decoders responding to at leastinter-frame coding, each standard compression decoder comprising asubstantially full dynamic range decoding channel and a plurality ofpartial dynamic range decoding channels, each standard decoder beingassociated with a respective substantially full dynamic range encodedvideo signal component, each standard compression encoder decoding,using said respective substantially full dynamic range decoding channel,said respective substantially full dynamic range encoded video signalcomponent to produce a respective substantially full dynamic rangedecoded video signal component.
 39. The apparatus of claim 38, whereinat least one of said substantially full dynamic range encoded videosignal components are encrypted according to one of a watermarkingprocess and an encryption process, said apparatus further comprising: anencryption decoder, for decrypting configured to decrypt said at leastone encrypted substantially full dynamic range encoded video signalcomponentscomponent.
 40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein at least oneof said substantially full dynamic range decoded video signal componentshas been subjected to regional map and scale processing to produce arespective remapped component video signal and an associated map regionidentification stream, said apparatus further comprising: a respectiveinverse regional map and scale unit associated with each substantiallyfull dynamic range decoded video signal component that has beensubjected to regional map and scale processing; said inverse regionalmap and scale unit, in response to intra-region information parametermaxima and minima, inverse remapping one or more relatively high dynamicrange information parameters of each information region of saidrespective substantially full dynamic range decoded video signalcomponent that has been subjected to regional map and scale processing.41. Apparatus, for encoding An apparatus configured to encode a videoinformation stream to recover a video signal, said video informationstream comprising a substantially full dynamic range compression encodedluminance component, first and second portions of a substantially fulldynamic range compression encoded first chrominance component and firstand second portions of a substantially full dynamic range compressionencoded second chrominance component, said apparatus comprising: ademultiplexer, for extracting configured to extract from said videoinformation stream said encoded luminance and chrominance components;and a first compression decoder, for decoding configured to decode saidsubstantially full dynamic range compression encoded luminance componentto recover said luminance component of said video signal, and fordecoding configured to decode said first portions of said substantiallyfull dynamic range compression encoded first and second chrominancecomponents; a second decoder, for decoding configured to decode saidsecond portions of said substantially full dynamic range compressionencoded first and second chrominance components; a first adder, foradding configured to add said decoded first and second portions of saidsubstantially full dynamic range compression encoded first chrominancecomponent to recover said first chrominance component of said videosignal; and a second adder, for adding configured to add said decodedfirst and second portions of said substantially full dynamic rangecompression encoded second chrominance component to recover said secondchrominance component of said video signal.
 42. The apparatus of claim41, wherein at least one of said substantially full dynamic rangecompression encoded video signal components are encrypted according toone of a watermarking process and an encryption process, said apparatusfurther comprising: an encryption decoder, for decrypting configured todecrypt said at least one encrypted substantially full dynamic rangeencoded video signal components.
 43. The apparatus of claim 42, whereinat least one of said substantially full dynamic range decoded videosignal components has been subjected to regional map and scaleprocessing to produce a respective remapped component video signal andan associated map region identification stream, said apparatus furthercomprising: a respective inverse regional map and scale unit associatedwith each substantially full dynamic range decoded video signalcomponent that has been subjected to regional map and scale processing;said inverse regional map and scale unit, in response to intra-regioninformation parameter maxima and minima, inverse remapping one or morerelatively high dynamic range information parameters of each informationregion of said respective substantially full dynamic range decoded videosignal component that has been subjected to regional map and scaleprocessing.
 44. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein: said first portionsof said substantially full dynamic range encoded first and secondchrominance components comprise relatively low frequency portions ofsaid first and second chrominance components of said video signal; andsaid second portions of said substantially full dynamic rangecompression encoded first and second chrominance components compriserelatively high frequency portions of said first and second chrominancecomponents of said video signal.
 45. Apparatus, for decoding Anapparatus configured to decode a video information stream to recover avideo signal, said video information stream comprising a substantiallyfull dynamic range compression encoded luminance component, asubstantially full dynamic range compression encoded first chrominancecomponent and a plurality of portions of a compression encoded secondchrominance component, said apparatus comprising: a demultiplexer, forextracting configured to extract from said video information stream saidcompression encoded luminance and chrominance components; and a firstdecoder, for decoding configured to decode said substantially fulldynamic range compression encoded luminance component to recover saidluminance component of said video signal, and for decoding configured todecode at least one of said plurality of portions of said compressionencoded second chrominance component; a second decoder, for decodingconfigured to decode said substantially full dynamic range compressionencoded first chrominance component to recover said first chrominancecomponent of said video signal, and for decoding configured to decoderemaining portions of said plurality of portions of said compressionencoded second chrominance component; and means for combining saiddecoded portions encoded second chrominance component to recover saidsecond chrominance component of said video signal.
 46. The apparatus ofclaim 45, wherein said plurality of portions said compression encodedsecond chrominance component comprises a low horizontal and low verticalfrequency portion (LL), a low horizontal and high vertical frequencyportion (LH) and high horizontal and low vertical frequency portion(HL).
 47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein each of said portions ofsaid compression encoded second chrominance component have beenspectrally shifted to a relatively low horizontal and low verticalfrequency (LL) region, and wherein said combining means comprises: afirst frequency converter, for configured to spectrally shifting shiftsaid decoded LH portion of said second chrominance component from saidLL region to an LH region; a second frequency converter, for configuredto spectrally shifting shift said decoded HL portion of said secondchrominance component from said LL region to an HL region; and an adder,for combining configured to combine said decoded LL, said decoded andfrequency converted LH and said decoded and frequency converted HLportions of said second chrominance component to recover said secondchrominance component of said video signal.
 48. In a system fordistributing a video information signal comprising a plurality of fulldynamic range components, a method comprising the steps of: compressionencoding, using at least two standard encoders providing at leastinter-frame coding, each of said plurality of full dynamic rangecomponents of said video signal in a manner substantially preservingsaid full dynamic range of said components of said video signal, each ofsaid standard encoders being responsive to up to three component videosignals, each of said standard compression encoders tending tosubstantially preserve a dynamic range and spatial resolution of onecomponent of said video signal, each of said standard compressionencoders providing a compressed output video signal; and multiplexingsaid compressed output video signals of said two or more standardcompression encoders to produce a multiplexed information stream; eachof said standard encoders being responsive to up to three componentvideo signals, each of said standard compression encoders tending tosubstantially preserve a dynamic range and spatial resolution of onecomponent of said video signal.
 49. The method of claim 48, furthercomprising the step of: encrypting at least one of said compressedoutput video signals of said two or more standard compression encodersaccording to one of a watermarking process and an encryption process.50. The method of claim 48, further comprising the steps of:demultiplexing said multiplexed information stream to retrieve saidcompressed output video signals of said two or more standard compressionencoders; and compression decoding, using at least two standarddecoders, said retrieved compressed output video signals of said two ormore standard compression encoders to produce a retrieved videoinformation signal, each of said standard decoders receiving arespective one of said retrieved compressed output video signals, eachof said standard compression decoders being responsive to up to threecomponent video signals within said respective one compressed videosignal, each of said standard compression decoders tending tosubstantially preserve a dynamic range and spatial resolution of onecomponent within said respective one compressed video signal.
 51. Themethod of claim 49, further comprising the steps of: demultiplexing saidmultiplexed information stream to retrieve said compressed output videosignals of said two or more standard compression encoders; decryptingsaid at least one encrypted and compressed output video signal; andcompression decoding, using at least two standard decoders, saidretrieved unencrypted and decrypted compressed output video signals ofsaid two or more standard compression encoders to produce a retrievedvideo information signal, each of said standard decoders receiving arespective one of said retrieved compressed output video signals, eachof said standard compression decoders being responsive to up to threecomponent video signals within said respective one compressed videosignal, each of said standard compression decoders tending tosubstantially preserve a dynamic range and spatial resolution of onecomponent within said respective one compressed video signal.
 52. Asystem for compressing a video signal, comprising: a first video signalcompression encoder configured to inter-frame compression encode a firstcomponent signal of a first color representation signal standard at afull resolution and a second component signal of the first colorrepresentation signal standard at a partial resolution, to receive afirst component signal of a second color representation signal standardof the video signal at a port for the first component signal of thefirst color representation signal standard, and to produce a compressionencoded first component signal of the second color representation signalstandard of the video signal; a second video signal compression encoderconfigured to inter-frame compression encode the first component signalof the first color representation signal standard at the full resolutionand the second component signal of the first color representation signalstandard at the partial resolution, to receive a second component signalof the second color representation signal standard of the video signalat the port for the first component signal of the first colorrepresentation signal standard, and to produce a compression encodedsecond component signal of the second color representation signalstandard of the video signal; and a multiplexer configured to receivethe compression encoded first component signal of the second colorrepresentation signal standard of the video signal and the compressionencoded second component signal of the second color representationsignal standard of the video signal and to produce a compressed videosignal.
 53. A system for decompressing a video signal, comprising: ademultiplexer configured to receive the video signal and to produce acompression encoded first component signal of a first colorrepresentation signal standard of the video signal and a compressionencoded second component signal of the first color representation signalstandard of the video signal; a first video signal compression decoderconfigured to inter-frame compression decode a first component signal ofa second color representation signal standard at a full resolution and asecond component signal of the second color representation signalstandard at a partial resolution, to receive the compression encodedfirst component signal of the first color representation signal standardof the video signal at a port for the first component signal of a secondcolor representation signal standard, and to produce a decompressedfirst component signal of the first color representation signal standardof the video signal; and a second video signal compression decoderconfigured to inter-frame compression decode the first component signalof the second color representation signal standard at the fullresolution and the second component signal of the second colorrepresentation signal standard at the partial resolution, to receive thecompression encoded second component signal of the first representationsignal standard of the video signal at the port for the first componentsignal of the second color representation signal standard, and toproduce a decompressed second component signal of the first colorrepresentation signal standard of the video signal.
 54. A method forprocessing a video information signal comprising a plurality of fulldynamic range components, said method comprising: compression encodingsaid video information signal in a manner substantially retaining saidfull dynamic range of said full dynamic range components using acompression encoder providing at least inter-frame coding, saidcompression encoder comprising at least two standard encoders, each ofsaid standard encoders being responsive to up to three component videosignals, each of said standard compression encoders tending tosubstantially preserve a dynamic range and spatial resolution of onecomponent of said video signal, each of said standard compressionencoders providing a compressed output video signal; and multiplexingsaid compressed output video signals of said two or more standardcompression encoders to produce a multiplexed information stream. 55.The method of claim 54, further comprising: encrypting at least one ofsaid compressed output video signals of said two or more standardcompression encoders according to one of a watermarking process and anencryption process.
 56. A method for processing a video informationsignal comprising a plurality of full dynamic range components, saidmethod comprising: demultiplexing said multiplexed information stream toretrieve said compressed output video signals of said two or morestandard compression encoders; and compression decoding using adecompression decoder said retrieved compressed output video signals ofsaid two or more standard compression encoders to produce a retrievedvideo information signal, said compression decoder comprising at leasttwo standard decoders, each of said standard decoders receiving arespective one of said retrieved compressed output video signals, eachof said standard compression decoders being responsive to up to threecomponent video signals within said respective one compressed videosignal, each of said standard compression decoders tending tosubstantially preserve a dynamic range and spatial resolution of onecomponent within said respective one compressed video signal.
 57. Themethod of claim 56, further comprising: decrypting at least one of saidcompressed output video signals of said two or more standard compressiondecoders according to one of a watermarking process and a decryptionprocess.
 58. The method of claim 56, further comprising: transportencoding said multiplexed information stream to produce a transportencoded information stream; transporting said transport encodedinformation stream; and retrieving said multiplexed information streamfrom said transport encoded information stream.
 59. The method of claim57, further comprising: storing one or more multiplexed informationstreams; transport encoding said one or more multiplexed informationstreams to produce a transport encoded information stream; transportingsaid transport encoded information stream; retrieving said one or moremultiplexed information streams from said transport encoded informationstream; and storing said retrieved one or more multiplexed informationstreams.
 60. The method of claim 58, further comprising: demultiplexingsaid multiplexed information stream to retrieve said compressed outputvideo signals of said two or more standard compression encoders; andcompression decoding using a compression decoder said retrievedcompressed output video signals of said two or more standard compressionencoders to produce a retrieved video information signal by receiving arespective one of said retrieved compressed output video signals, eachof said standard compression decoders being responsive to up to threecomponent video signals within said respective one compressed videosignal, each of said standard compression decoders tending tosubstantially preserve a dynamic range and spatial resolution of onecomponent within said respective one compressed video signal.
 61. Themethod of claim 59, further comprising: demultiplexing said multiplexedinformation stream to retrieve said compressed output video signals ofsaid two or more standard compression encoders; and compression decodingusing a compression decoder said retrieved compressed output videosignals of said two or more standard compression encoders to produce aretrieved video information signal, said compression decoder comprisingat least two standard decoders, each of said standard decoders receivinga respective one of said retrieved compressed output video signals, eachof said standard compression decoders being responsive to up to threecomponent video signals within said respective one compressed videosignal, each of said standard compression decoders tending tosubstantially preserve a dynamic range and spatial resolution of onecomponent within said respective one compressed video signal.
 62. Themethod of claim 60, further comprising displaying said retrieved videoinformation signal.
 63. The method of claim 54, further comprising:demultiplexing said multiplexed information stream to retrieve saidcompressed output video signals of said two or more standard compressionencoders; and compression decoding, using one or more compressiondecoders, respective retrieved compressed output video signals of saidtwo or more standard compression encoders to produce respectiveretrieved video information signals, said one or more compressiondecoders each comprising at least two standard decoders, each of saidstandard decoders receiving a respective one of said retrievedcompressed output video signals, each of said standard compressiondecoders being responsive to up to three component video signals withinsaid respective one compressed video signal, each of said standardcompression decoders tending to substantially preserve a dynamic rangeand spatial resolution of one component within said respective onecompressed video signal.
 64. The method of claim 63, further comprisingdisplaying said retrieved video information signal.
 65. The method ofclaim 54, wherein said compression encoding further comprises segmentinga component video signal into one or more information regions; remappingone or more relatively high dynamic range information parametersassociated with each information region according to respectiveintra-region information parameter maxima and minima to produce aremapped component video signal and an associated map regionidentification stream, said one or more remapped information parametershaving a relatively low dynamic range; and compression encoding saidremapped information stream to produce a compression encoded informationstream.
 66. The method of claim 65, further comprising: transportencoding said compression encoded information stream and said map regionidentification stream to produce a transport stream.
 67. The method ofclaim 66, further comprising: transport decoding said transport streamto recover said compression encoded information stream and saidassociated map region identification stream; compression decoding saidrecovered compression encoded information stream to recover saidremapped information stream; and inverse remapping said recoveredremapped information stream according to said associated map regionidentification stream to substantially recover said information stream.68. The method of claim 66, wherein said information stream comprises atleast a video information stream.
 69. The method of claim 65, wherein:said regional map and scale unit imparts a transfer characteristic tosaid remapped information stream comprising at least one of a gammacorrection characteristic, a companding characteristic, a statisticalredistribution characteristic, a simple linear characteristic, anarbitrary polynomial characteristic and a pre-determined functioncharacteristic.
 70. The method of claim 65, wherein each informationregion is defined with respect to one of a picture, frame, field, slice,macroblock, block, pixel location, and motion vector.
 71. The method ofclaim 54, wherein said compression encoding comprises: encoding aluminance component of said video signal in a manner substantiallypreserving a dynamic range and spatial resolution of said luminancecomponent; encoding a first chrominance component of said video signalin a manner substantially preserving a dynamic range and spatialresolution of said first chrominance component; and encoding a secondchrominance component of said video signal in a manner substantiallypreserving a dynamic range and spatial resolution of said secondchrominance component.
 72. The method of claim 71, wherein saidcompression decoding comprises: decoding said luminance component ofsaid video signal in a manner substantially preserving said dynamicrange and spatial resolution of said luminance component; decoding saidfirst chrominance component of said video signal in a mannersubstantially preserving said dynamic range and spatial resolution ofsaid first chrominance component; and decoding said second chrominancecomponent of said video signal in a manner substantially preserving saiddynamic range and spatial resolution of said second chrominancecomponent.
 73. A method for processing a video signal, said video signalcomprising a luminance component, a first color component and a secondcolor component, said video signal components having respective fulldynamic ranges, said method comprising: encoding said video signal toproduce a first encoded video signal by encoding substantially theentire dynamic range of said luminance component of said video signal, afirst portion of said dynamic range of said first color component ofsaid video signal, and a first portion of said dynamic range of saidsecond color component of said video signal; and encoding a secondportion of said dynamic range of said first color component of saidvideo signal and a second portion of said dynamic range of said secondcolor component of said video signal.
 74. The method of claim 73,further comprising: filtering said first color component of said videosignal to produce a low pass filtered first color component signal and ahigh pass filtered first color component signal; filtering said secondcolor component of said video signal to produce a low pass filteredsecond color component signal and a high pass filtered second colorcomponent signal; coupling said low pass filtered first color componentsignal and said low pass filtered second color component signal being tosaid first compression encoder as first dynamic range portions of,respectively, said first and second color components of said videosignal; and coupling said high pass filtered first color componentsignal and said high pass filtered second color component signal beingto said second compression encoder as second dynamic range portions of,respectively, said first and second color components of said videosignal.
 75. The method of claim 73, further comprising: filtering saidfirst color component of said video signal to produce a low passfiltered first color component signal; coupling said low pass filteredfirst color component signal being to said first compression encoder asa first dynamic range portion of said first color component of saidvideo signal; filtering said second color component of said video signalto produce a low pass filtered second color component signal; andcoupling said low pass filtered second color component signal being tosaid first compression encoder as a first dynamic range portion of saidsecond color component of said video signal.
 76. The method of claim 73,wherein said second compression encoder comprises: decoding said firstand second color components of said first encoded video signal toproduce, respectively, a first decoded color component signal and asecond decoded color component signal; subtracting said first decodedcolor component signal from said first color component of said videosignal to produce a first color difference signal; subtracting saidsecond decoded color component signal from said second color componentof said video signal to produce a second color difference signal;receiving said first color difference signal at a nominally luminanceinput; encoding said first color difference signal to produce an encodedfirst color difference signal; receiving said second color differencesignal at a nominally luminance input; and encoding said second colordifference signal to produce an encoded second color difference signal.77. The method of claim 73, wherein encoding said video signal toproduce a first encoded video signal further comprises: filtering saidfirst color component of said video signal to produce low pass/verticallow pass (LL) filtered first color component signal; coupling said LLfiltered first color component signal being to said first compressionencoder as a first dynamic range portion of said first color componentof said video signal; filtering said second color component of saidvideo signal to produce an LL filtered second color component signal;and coupling said LL filtered second color component signal being tosaid first compression encoder as a first dynamic range portion of saidsecond color component of said video signal.
 78. A method for encoding avideo signal to produce an encoded video information stream, said videosignal comprising a full dynamic range luminance component, a fulldynamic range first chrominance component and a full dynamic rangesecond chrominance component, said method comprising; filtering saidfull dynamic range first chrominance component to produce a low passfiltered first chrominance component; filtering said full dynamic rangesecond chrominance component to produce a low pass filtered secondchrominance component; providing at least inter-frame coding forencoding said full dynamic range luminance component; providing a pairof relatively low dynamic range encoding channels for encoding said lowpass filtered first and second chrominance components; encoding at leastthose portions of said full dynamic range first and second chrominancecomponents not provided in said first compression encoder; andmultiplexing said encoded video components to produce said encoded videoinformation stream.
 79. The method of claim 78, further comprisingencrypting at least one of said compressed output video componentsignals according to one of a watermarking process and an encryptionprocess.
 80. The method of claim 78, wherein said dynamic range of atleast one of said full dynamic range components exceeds a dynamic rangeof said plurality of standard compression encoders, further comprising:providing a respective regional map and scale unit associated with eachof said full dynamic range components; segmenting said respectiveexceeding full dynamic range component into one or more informationregions; remapping one or more relatively high dynamic range informationparameters associated with each information region according torespective intra-region information parameter maxima and minima toproduce a remapped component video signal and an associated map regionidentification stream, said one or more remapped information parametershaving a relatively low dynamic range; and compression encoding saidrespective remapped information stream to produce a respectivecompression encoded map information stream.
 81. A method for encoding avideo signal to produce an encoded video information stream, said videosignal comprising a full dynamic range luminance component, a fulldynamic range first chrominance component and a full dynamic rangesecond chrominance component, said method comprising; using a firstfilter, responsive to said full dynamic range first chrominancecomponent, to produce a low pass filtered first chrominance component;using a second filter, responsive to said full dynamic range secondchrominance component, to produce a low pass filtered second chrominancecomponent; using a first compression encoder providing at leastinter-frame coding and comprising a relatively high dynamic rangeencoding channel to encode said full dynamic range luminance componentand said low pass filtered first and second chrominance components;using a second compression encoder to encode at least those portions ofsaid full dynamic range first and second chrominance components notencoded using said first compression encoder; and multiplexing saidencoded video components to produce said encoded video informationstream.
 82. The method of claim 81, further comprising encrypting atleast one of said compressed output video component signals according toone of a watermarking process and an encryption process.
 83. The methodof claim 81, wherein said dynamic range of at least one of said fulldynamic range components exceeds a dynamic range of said plurality ofstandard compression encoders, said method further comprising: providinga respective regional map and scale unit associated with each of saidexceeding full dynamic range components; segmenting said respectiveexceeding full dynamic range component into one or more informationregions; remapping one or more relatively high dynamic range informationparameters associated with each information region according torespective intra-region information parameter maxima and minima toproduce a remapped component video signal and an associated map regionidentification stream, said one or more remapped information parametershaving a relatively low dynamic range; and compression encoding saidrespective remapped information stream to produce a respectivecompression encoded map information stream.
 84. The method of claim 81,further comprising: filtering said full dynamic range first chrominancecomponent to produce a high pass filtered first chrominance component;and filtering said full dynamic range second chrominance component toproduce a high pass filtered second chrominance component; wherein saidhigh pass filtered first chrominance component and said high passfiltered second chrominance component comprises said portions of saidfull dynamic range first and second chrominance components not encodedby said first compression encoder.
 85. A method for compressing a videosignal, comprising: inter-frame compression encoding a first componentsignal of a first color representation signal standard at a fullresolution and a second component signal of the first colorrepresentation signal standard at a partial resolution; receiving afirst component signal of a second color representation signal standardof the video signal at a port for the first component signal of thefirst color representation signal standard; producing a compressionencoded first component signal of the second color representation signalstandard of the video signal; inter-frame compression encoding the firstcomponent signal of the first color representation signal standard atthe full resolution and the second component signal of the first colorrepresentation signal standard at the partial resolution; receiving asecond component signal of the second color representation signalstandard of the video signal at the port for the first component signalof the first color representation signal standard; producing acompression encoded second component signal of the second colorrepresentation signal standard of the video signal; and multiplexing thecompression encoded first component signal of the second colorrepresentation signal standard of the video signal with the compressionencoded second component signal of the second color representationsignal standard of the video signal to produce a compressed videosignal.
 86. A method for decompressing a video signal, comprising:demultiplexing the video signal to produce a compression encoded firstcomponent signal of a first color representation signal standard of thevideo signal and a compression encoded second component signal of thefirst color representation signal standard of the video signal;inter-frame compression decoding a first component signal of a secondcolor representation signal standard at a full resolution and a secondcomponent signal of the second color representation signal standard at apartial resolution; receiving the compression encoded first componentsignal of the first color representation signal standard of the videosignal at a port for the first component signal of a second colorrepresentation signal standard; producing a decompressed first componentsignal of the first color representation signal standard of the videosignal; and inter-frame compression decoding the first component signalof the second color representation signal standard at the fullresolution and the second component signal of the second colorrepresentation signal standard at the partial resolution; receiving thecompression encoded second component signal of the first representationsignal standard of the video signal at the port for the first componentsignal of the second color representation signal standard; and producinga decompressed second component signal of the first color representationsignal standard of the video signal.